Peggy Fikac: Pushing a gas tax increase, transportation chairman John Carona says it's time for leaders and lawmakers to do the right thing instead of looking out for political interests.

Published 3:27 pm, Sunday, November 22, 2009

AUSTIN - If you thought Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Chairman John Carona had simmered down since he blasted his party's top leaders this legislative session, think again.

Carona, a Dallas Republican, is on a mission to avert what he sees as a looming crisis in transportation funding. He's perplexed at those from both parties who don't share his urgency.

"There was a lot more courage in the Legislature 20 years ago than perhaps there is today," Carona said at a recent public forum, referring - perhaps not coincidentally - to the general time period when lawmakers last increased the state gasoline tax. "It's time that today's legislators of both parties realize ... some issues require a really tough vote. And occasionally, some issues might not in fact get you re-elected. But you're down here to do the right thing for the right reasons."

Later, he was even more blunt: "I believe that in too many examples, members are more concerned about their political future than they are about the best interests of the state."

Carona, as we've reported, suggests a 10-cent-a-gallon increase in the gasoline tax, which hasn't been raised since 1991, to get out of a funding squeeze that's expected to drain the highway fund of money for new construction contracts by 2012. Democratic candidate for governor Hank Gilbert is pushing a similar idea, but he wants an 8-cent increase. Detailed plans from others? Few.

Carona in the regular legislative session accused top GOP leaders of lacking leadership when the local-option revenue idea he and others pushed went down in flames. He's not holding his breath for people to back another big idea until after next year's election - but that doesn't mean he's going to pipe down.

"Until such day that this is not my assignment any more - and that could happen tomorrow if I keep speaking publicly to the press about this - I intend to be the state's most vocal advocate for doing something about this problem," Carona said. "I am willing to accept solutions other than the ones I'm proposing here, but I'm not willing to accept no solution."

Carona said he has talked to GOP Gov. Rick Perry and Perry primary election challenger U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. He indicated both want to address transportation but neither has committed in any way to his idea.

"As is always the case in politics, I think we'll see much more focus on this issue after the upcoming elections than seeing it become part of the debate during campaign season," Carona said.

Does that seem like a backward way to do it to anyone?

Carona, by the way, knows how this tax talk sounds.

"Any time you come out here and propose anything dealing with a revenue increase, the first thing people try to do is pin you as a liberal," Carona said. "I'm a conservative businessman, southern Baptist, father of five - everything about my political credentials signals conservative. But I'm also a problem solver."

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To buy or not to buy? Perry and GOP Comptroller Susan Combs appear to approach the recession a bit differently. Perry, asked whether he's asked state agencies to throttle back spending, said, "Anyone who does not see the impact of this national and international recession and realize that a prudent individual - whether you work for the state of Texas or you're a private citizen - you ought to ask yourself, 'Do we really need to spend this money?'" Combs, who touts specific savings at agencies including her own, said at a recent conference that at a personal level, "I am affirming that I am a proud shopper, and I'm personally doing what I can to get consumer confidence up above 71.7. Men, if the little woman - that of course describes me as well - if the little woman wants to go shop, say, 'Atta girl, we need to go shop.'"

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The Texas Lottery Commission is asking the governor and Legislative Budget Board to raise the salary for the now-vacant position of executive director from $140,900 to $185,350 to make it more competitive with neighboring states' lotteries.